April 1 - Sergei Rachmaninoff (The Musical Birthday Series, 8th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for April 1st may be found here: Sergei Rachmaninoff (2019), F. Melius Christiansen (2020), Alberta Hunter (2021), Debbie Reynolds; Sergei Rachmaninoff (2022), Susan Boyle (2023) , Rachmaninoff (2024), and Sergei Rachmaninoff (2025)

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Sergei Rachmaninoff (1 April [O.S. 20 March] 1873 – 28 March 1943) was, of course, one of the greatest pianists of his time, and remains one of the most beloved of all composers.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Musical Heritage Society

A composer whose lineage is Russian

Is an heir to a style to be plush in,

And laughing or grieving,

This heart-on-your-sleeving

Is not a thing up for discussion.

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Hand Me Downers

Along with his musical gifts, Rachmaninoff possessed physical gifts that placed him in good stead as a pianist, including large hands with a gigantic finger stretch. – Wikipedia

The spread of Rachmaninoff's hand

Was quite inexplicably grand,

And his passage work numbs

The ten fingers and thumbs

Of mortals less lavishly planned.

 

 

 

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March 31 - Johann Sebastian Bach; Joseph Haydn (The Musical Birthday Series, 8th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for March 31st may be found here: Joseph Haydn (2019) and (2020), Herb Alpert (2022), Joseph Haydn; Johann Sebastian Bach (2022), Joseph Haydn (2023), Shirley Jones; Johann Sebastian Bach (2024), and Sergei Diaghilev; Johann Sebastian Bach; Joseph Haydn (2025)

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Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March [O. S. 21 March] 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and organist. 

Joseph Haydn (31 March 1732 – 31 May 1809) was one of the great composers of the late 18th century.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Might Have Beens

For eighteen years they shared this earth,

And also shared their date of birth;

But never met for cake and candles,

Or shared their take on local scandals,

Or took a break with scores of Handel's;

They never sat and played duets,

Or turned their chat to minuets,

And then from that to cigarettes;

Envoi

Sometimes lives that overlap

Are kept divided by the map.

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March 30 - John Stafford Smith (The Musical Birthday Series, 8th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for March 30th may be found here: John Stafford Smith (2019), Celine Dion (2020), Eric Clapton (2021). Johann Wilhelm Wilms (2022), Antonio de Cabezón (2023), John Stafford Smith (2024), and Tommaso Traetta (2025)

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John Stafford Smith (30 March 1750 – 21 September 1836) was a pioneer in the collection and study of musical manuscripts, a friend of Haydn and Mozart, and a minor composer.   

 

 

 

 

 

In re: JSS

Smith is best known for writing the music for "The Anacreontic Song", which became the tune for the American patriotic song "The Star-Spangled Banner", and in 1931 was adopted as the national anthem of the United States. – adapted from Wikipedia

I'm enclosing a limerick herewith

With a thought about John Stafford Smith:

It was hardly foreseeable

That his song, though agreeable,

Would embody the American myth.

 

 

 

 

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March 29 - Albert Von Tilzer (The Musical Birthday Series, 8th Annual Cycle)

Previous postings for March 29th may be found here: Albert von Tilzer (2019), Astrud Gilberto (2020), Supply Belcher; William Walton; John Hawkins (2021), William Walton (2022), E. Power Biggs (2023), William Walton; Richard Rodney Bennett (2024), and William Walton (2025)

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Albert Von Tilzer's (29 March 1878 –1 October 1956) rousing song "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is traditionally sung during the seventh inning of every professional baseball game in America, so it is a lovely coincidence that his birthday falls during the first week of major league baseball season.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope Springs Eternal

When baseball begins in the spring,

The fans in their stadiums sing

Von Tilzer's old song

While their hopes are still strong

That their team could still win the whole thing.

 

 

 

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March 28 - Bill Gaither (The Musical Birthday Series, 8th Annual Cycle)

Previous postings for March 28th may be found here: Paul Whiteman (2019), Lady Gaga (2020), Alf Clausen (2021), Lady Gaga (2022), Joey Roukens (2023), Joseph Weigl; Myfanwy Piper (2024), and Jay Livingston (2025)

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Bill Gaither (b. 28 March 1936) is an American singer and songwriter of Southern gospel and contemporary Christian music. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We Gaither Together

The songs that were sung by Bill Gaither

Were meant to make faith even faither;

Though some would observe of his brand

That both music and doctrine are bland.

 

 

 

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March 27 - R. J. S. Stevens (The Musical Birthday Series, 8th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for March 27th may be found here: Antonio Squarcialupi (2019), Sarah Vaughan, Patty Smith Hill; Ben Webster (2021), Ferde Grofé (2022), Vincent d'Indy (2023), Mariah Carey (2024), and Phil Chess (2025)

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R. J. S. [Richard John Samuel] Stevens (27 March 1757 – 23 September 1837) was an English composer and organist, best remembered for his glees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hear Today

Even though his talent was more "adequate" than "great,"

   He thought he'd found a genre to excel in;

And so it's sad the vogue for glees went quickly out of date,

   Which otherwise he might have done so well in.

 

 

 

 

 

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